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127-438: Scissor Sisters are an American pop rock band formed in 2000. The band's current line-up consists of Jake Shears (vocals), Babydaddy (various instruments) and Del Marquis (guitar, bass). Former members include vocalist Ana Matronic and drummers Paddy Boom and Randy Real. Scissor Sisters incorporate diverse styles in their music, but tend to sway towards pop rock , glam rock , nu-disco , and electroclash . Forged in

254-819: A Kiki " exclusively via Spotify in some countries. Upon release, Magic Hour peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart and #35 on the US Billboard 200. The album reached #1 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums chart. The band embarked on a world tour in support of Magic Hour , starting with summer shows in North America. On July 10, 2012, they performed the American TV premiere of "Let's Have a Kiki" on Bravo-TV's Watch What Happens Live . They toured Europe in September and October 2012. On October 23, 2012, while performing at

381-613: A Thousand Words " was released as the second single from the album, peaking at No. 19 in the UK. " She's My Man " was the third single released in March 2007, peaking at No. 29. " Kiss You Off " was the fourth and final single released in May 2007 but failed to dent the Top 40, their first single since their debut Laura to do so. The "Kiss You Off" video centered around Ana Matronic in a futuristic beauty salon. The group

508-577: A brain aneurysm in April 2006, news that devastated members of the band. Many of Scissor Sisters' songs deal with themes in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community , relating to the fact that three of the band members, including the two founders, are gay. "Filthy/Gorgeous" is about transgender prostitutes while "Take Your Mama" deals with coming out of the closet to family members. Despite this, Shears stated, "I don't believe sexuality really matters when it comes to music." In an interview featured on

635-474: A couple of singles to little success and began appearing at underground clubs on New York's Lower East Side . On a trip to Disneyland , the pair met Ana "Matronic" Lynch at a screening of Michael Jackson 's Captain EO . During a subsequent teacup ride, they discovered that they had a lot in common. Shears later remarked, "I really thought she was a freak but when I started singing " Another Part of Me " she showed me

762-522: A direct impact on the medical treatment of vulvar melanomas. Signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer can include: itching , or bleeding ; skin changes including rashes, sores, lumps or ulcers , and changes in vulvar skin coloration. Pelvic pain might also occur especially during urinating and sex. However, a significant proportion remains asymptomatic in early disease stages, often delaying its diagnosis. As such, 32% of women with vulvar melanoma already have regional involvement or distant metastases at

889-475: A good understanding of it just not being the right time. So it is a little funny [to be reuniting without her]. But also, there’s the people that want to hear this music again too. Maybe there is some future where Ana comes back and does stuff too. Who knows? She’ll be in the back of our minds, for sure. But in the meantime, for the 20th anniversary, it just felt like we wanted to see what these songs do out there." Scissor Sisters' music can be generally described as

1016-538: A hit in many dance clubs and, after sending Pink Floyd themselves a copy, the Scissor Sisters received positive remarks from the song's original writers Roger Waters and David Gilmour . The song proved to be particularly popular in the UK, where various record labels soon took an interest in the band. In 2003, they decided they would tour Europe where they believed audiences would be more receptive to them and their music than their native US. "Comfortably Numb" came to

1143-499: A large and varied group of women showed clearly that there is much variation. Other variations of the vulva include the appearance of Fordyce spots and clitoral phimosis (when the clitoral hood cannot retract past the glans). Researchers from the Elizabeth Garret Anderson Hospital, London, measured multiple genital dimensions of 50 women between the ages of 18 and 50, with a mean age of 35.6: In week three of

1270-462: A mixture of glam rock , disco and alternative music. They appear to have been heavily influenced by Elton John (who co-wrote and played piano on "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'") despite Shears commenting that he was not familiar with his work prior to the release of their record. Shears has since stated that he has become a big fan. The band also has been compared to ABBA , the Bee Gees , Blondie , KC and

1397-571: A much slower rate if an orgasm has not occurred. The vagina and its opening return to their normal relaxed state, and the rest of the vulva returns to its normal size, position and color. The distance between the clitoral frenulum and the urinary meatus located above the vaginal opening is called the clitoral-urinary meatus distance or CUMD. In the 1920s, Marie Bonaparte conducted surveys among women to find out whether they get an orgasm during coitus . The causes of lack of sexual arousal were known to be aversion or psychological inhibitions. Among

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1524-451: A number of physical changes in the vulva. During arousal, the Bartholin's glands produce more vaginal lubrication . Vulval tissue is highly vascularised ; arterioles dilate in response to sexual arousal and the smaller veins will compress after arousal, so that the clitoris and labia minora increase in size. Increased vasocongestion in the vagina causes it to swell, decreasing the size of

1651-416: A permanent basis, to which she agreed. The trio then began appearing at other clubs, dropping the word "Fibrillating" from their name. They primarily played electroclash , which was popular at the time in the underground club scene of New York with bands like Peaches and Chicks on Speed . They were soon joined by Derek "Del Marquis" Gruen on lead guitar, who had known Shears from when they both worked at

1778-410: A remnant called the hymen. The newborn 's vulva may be swollen or enlarged as a result of having been exposed, via the placenta , to her mother's increased levels of hormones. The labia majora are closed. These changes disappear over the first few months. During childhood before puberty, the lack of estrogen can cause the labia to become sticky and to ultimately join firmly together. This condition

1905-452: A single chancre, a firm, painless, non-itchy ulcer, but there may be multiple sores; and gonorrhea that very often presents no symptoms but can result in discharge. Viral infections include human papillomavirus infection (HPV) – this is the most common STI and has many types. Genital HPV can cause genital warts . There have been links made between HPV and vulvar cancer, though HPV most often causes cervical cancer . Genital herpes

2032-545: A string of singles. According to Babydaddy, their purpose was "to create a perfect pop rock album that would pick you up at the beginning, take you on a journey in the middle, and set you right back down again in the same place at the end." About six months after its British release, Scissor Sisters was released in the US. To publicize it the band appeared on the popular morning television show Live with Regis and Kelly , an event that Shears later recalled: " Kelly Ripa loved us, after

2159-593: A two-single deal. Their first single " Electrobix " dealt with gay men's obsessions with working out but proved to be less popular than its B-side, a cover version of Pink Floyd 's progressive rock classic " Comfortably Numb ". Matronic commented, "It's one of those songs that people were either gonna love or hate, and that's really, really powerful, because it basically means you're evoking a reaction in everyone. The first time I heard it, I thought that if it doesn't make us famous, it'll make us infamous because somebody will shoot us!" Their version of "Comfortably Numb" became

2286-545: A woman in labour telephoned the show to share her experience with the band and they played " Push It " by Salt-n-Pepa for her. Several performances, interviews, and a humorous jingle that was written in an hour, were filmed and edited into a special seven-day, looped broadcast on BBCi . The album was released on September 18, 2006 in the United Kingdom, and on September 26, 2006 in the United States. According to Shears,

2413-451: Is inverse psoriasis in which red patches can appear in the skin folds of the labia. The vulvar region is at risk for trauma during childbirth . During childbirth, the vagina and vulva must stretch to accommodate the baby's head (approximately 9.5 cm (3.7 in)). This can result in tears known as perineal tears in the vaginal opening, and other structures within the perineum . An episiotomy (a pre-emptive surgical cutting of

2540-455: Is vulvovaginal-gingival syndrome , which can lead to narrowing of the vagina, or vulva destruction. Many types of infection and other diseases including some cancers may cause irritation. Vulvar organs and tissues can become affected by different infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses , or infested by parasites such as lice and mites . Over thirty types of pathogen can be sexually transmitted , and many of these affect

2667-478: Is a noun-adjective that music critics often use in reference to guitar pop with a bright mood. Critic Philip Auslander argues that the distinction between pop and rock is more pronounced in the US than in the UK. He claims that in the US, pop has roots in white crooners such as Perry Como , whereas rock is rooted in African-American music influenced by forms such as rock and roll . Auslander points out that

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2794-431: Is a white substance formed from a combination of dead cells, skin oils, moisture and naturally occurring bacteria , that forms in the genitalia. In females, this thickened secretion collects around the clitoris and labial folds. It can cause discomfort during sexual activity as it can cause the clitoral glans to stick to the hood, and is easily removed by bathing. Aliphatic acids known as copulins are also secreted in

2921-438: Is caused by another ectoparasite, the mite Sarcoptes scabiei , giving intense irritation. Malignancies can develop in the glabrous and hair-bearing parts of the vulva. Based on the cellular origin and histology , vulvar cancers are classified into squamous cell carcinomas , melanomas , basal cell carcinomas , adenocarcinomas , sarcomas and invasive extramammary Paget's disease . Squamous cell carcinomas represent

3048-491: Is characterised by painful cysts that can ulcerate, and recur, and can become chronic lasting for many years. Chronic cases can develop into squamous cell carcinomas . An asymptomatic skin disorder of the vulval vestibule is vestibular papillomatosis , which is characterised by fine, pink projections from either the epithelium of the vulva or from the labia minora. Dermatoscopy can distinguish this condition from genital warts. A subtype of psoriasis , an autoimmune disease ,

3175-570: Is chronic pain in the vulvar region. There is no single identifiable cause. A subtype of this is vulvar vestibulitis but since this is not thought to be an inflammatory condition it is more usually referred to as vestibulodynia . Vulvar vestibulitis usually affects pre-menopausal women. Pudendal nerve entrapment can cause sharp pain or numbness in the vulva. This condition can be caused by activities such as cycling , giving birth, or prolonged sitting. A number of skin disorders such as lichen sclerosus , and lichen simplex chronicus can affect

3302-430: Is known as labial fusion and is rarely found after puberty when estrogen production has increased. Puberty is the onset of the ability to reproduce, and takes place over two to three years, producing a number of changes. The structures of the vulva become proportionately larger and may become more pronounced. Pubarche , the first appearance of pubic hair develops, firstly on the labia majora, and later spreads to

3429-442: Is mostly asymptomatic but can present with small blisters that break open into ulcers . HIV/AIDS is mostly transmitted through sexual activity, and the vulva in some cases can be affected by sores. A highly contagious viral infection is molluscum contagiosum , which is transmissible on close contact and causes water warts . Parasitic infections include trichomoniasis , pediculosis pubis , and scabies . Trichomoniasis

3556-400: Is produced in large quantities during pregnancy and this causes the vulva to become enlarged. The vaginal opening and the vagina are also enlarged. After childbirth , a vaginal discharge known as lochia is produced and continues for about ten days. During menopause , hormone levels decrease, which causes changes in the vulva known as vulvovaginal atrophy . The decreased estrogen affects

3683-400: Is the center of heightened sensation. Cavernous nerves from the uterovaginal plexus supply the erectile tissue of the clitoris. These are joined underneath the pubic arch by the dorsal nerve of the clitoris. The pudendal nerve enters the pelvis through the lesser sciatic foramen and continues medial to the internal pudendal artery. The point where the nerve circles the ischial spine

3810-417: Is the location where a pudendal block of local anesthetic can be administered to inhibit sensation to the vulva. A number of smaller nerves split off from the pudendal nerve. The deep branch of the perineal nerve supplies the muscles of the perineum and a branch of this supplies the bulb of the vestibule. There is a great deal of variation in the appearance of the vulva. Much of this variation lies in

3937-415: Is transmitted by a parasitic protozoan and is the most common non-viral STI. Most cases are asymptomatic but may present symptoms of irritation and a discharge of unusual odor . Pediculosis pubis , commonly called crabs , is a disease caused by the crab louse an ectoparasite . When the pubic hair is infested, the irritation produced can be intense. Scabies , also known as the "seven year itch",

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4064-404: Is used specifically for females. The labia minora are the small inner pair of skin folds that protect the openings. The large outer pair of folds are the labia majora , which contain and protect the labia minora and other structures of the vulva. The labia majora meet at the front of the mons pubis, and meet posteriorly at the urogenital triangle (the anterior part of the perineum ) below

4191-408: Is via the external and internal pudendal veins . The organs and tissues of the vulva are drained by a chain of superficial inguinal lymph nodes located along the blood vessels . The ilioinguinal nerve originates from the first lumbar nerve and gives branches that include the anterior labial nerves , which supply the skin of the mons pubis and the labia majora. The perineal nerve is one of

4318-514: The We Are Scissor Sisters... And So Are You DVD, Shears states, "The fact that some of us are gay affects our music the same amount as it does that some of the members of Blondie are straight." The visuals for Scissor Sisters' self-titled first album and its singles featured artwork by an English illustrator named Spookytim, who had a studio in Brighton called Studiospooky. The artwork

4445-556: The Camden Roundhouse , Scissor Sisters announced an indefinite hiatus. A year later, Ana Matronic insisted that the band, while still on break, had not permanently split. The band collaborated on a charity record with MNDR and released " Swerlk " on June 9, 2017, their first release in five years. Proceeds for the single were donated to the Contigo Fund, a nonprofit organization for LGBTQ individuals. In June 2019, Shears stated

4572-410: The anus . The labia minora are often pink or brownish black, relevant to the person's skin color. The grooves between the labia majora and minora are called the interlabial sulci , or interlabial folds. The labia minora meet posteriorly as the frenulum ( fourchette ). Located at the anterior junction of the labia minora is the clitoris , a highly erogenous sexual organ. The visible portions of

4699-431: The pudendal nerve , perineal nerve , ilioinguinal nerve and their branches. Blood and nerve supply to the vulva contribute to the stages of sexual arousal that are helpful in the reproduction process. Following the development of the vulva, changes take place at birth, childhood , puberty , menopause and post-menopause. There is a great deal of variation in the appearance of the vulva, particularly in relation to

4826-400: The shaft engorged. The glans contains many nerve endings, which makes it highly sensitive. The only known function of the clitoris is to focus on sexual feelings. The clitoral hood is a protective fold of skin and it may partially or completely cover the shaft and glans. The hood may be partially or completely hidden within the pudendal cleft . The area between the labia minora where

4953-426: The vaginal introitus and the urinary meatus (openings of the vagina and urethra respectively) are located is the vestibule . The meatus is below the clitoris and atop the introitus. The introitus is sometimes partly covered by a membrane called the hymen . The hymen will usually rupture during the first episode of vigorous sex, and the blood produced by this rupture has been seen to signify virginity . However,

5080-426: The " gay nightlife scene of New York ", the band took its name from the female same-sex sexual activity of tribadism . The band came to prominence following the release of their Grammy -nominated and chart-topping disco version of " Comfortably Numb " and subsequent debut album Scissor Sisters (2004). The album was a success, particularly in the UK where it reached number one, was the best-selling album of 2004,

5207-499: The 1960s, Frith termed it "folk rock", and the pop-infused styles of the 1970s were called "pop rock". Moore-Gilbert claims that this approach unfairly puts rock at the apex and makes every other influence become an add-on to the central core of rock. In Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau discussed the term "pop-rock" in the context of popular music's fragmentation along stylistic lines in

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5334-474: The 1970s by Betty Dodson , the sexual arousal of the woman during vaginal intercourse is to be ensured by the woman independently stimulating her clitoris continuously with her hands or possibly with a vibrator . According to Kim Wallen, the CUMD says nothing about a happy sex life, rather that a large gap gives couples an opportunity "to be a bit more inventive in how they have sex". Irritation and itching of

5461-478: The 1970s; he regarded "pop-rock" as a "monolith" that "straddled" all burgeoning movements and subgenres in the popular and semipopular music marketplace at the time, including singer-songwriter music, art rock , heavy metal , boogie , country rock , jazz fusion , funk , disco , urban contemporary , and new wave , but not punk rock . Vulva In mammals , the vulva ( pl. : vulvas or vulvae ) comprises mostly external, visible structures of

5588-510: The African Khoikhoi and Rwanda cultures, the labia minora are purposefully stretched by repeated pulling on them and sometimes by attaching weights. Labia stretching is a recognised, familial cultural practice in parts of Eastern and Southern Africa. This is a desired and encouraged practice by the women (starting at puberty) in order to promote better sexual satisfaction for both parties. The achieved extensions can hang down below

5715-732: The Angel Tour for a concert in Mountain View, California . Their first gig in the UK for promotion of the second album took place at the KOKO Club , Camden , London, on August 31, 2006, and was filmed for MTV . 2006 performances at the Bowery Ballroom and Siren Music Festival in New York and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival allowed the band to showcase an array of songs from

5842-405: The CUMD was 2.5 cm; 21% measured 2.75 to 3.5 cm. All the women with a large gap stated that they did not experience satisfying pleasure from penile penetration, although some were very sensitive to "precise stroking by the man". Bonaparte concluded from this an anatomical causal connection between a large CUMD and "vaginal frigidity" explaining why only women with the clitoral glans close to

5969-456: The IC Guys club where Shears had been a stripper. They were joined by a fifth member, Patrick "Paddy Boom" Seacor , on drums who (being heterosexual ) felt the need to explain to his mother that "it's not a gay band... there [are] gay members, but it doesn't matter. It's about the music and about performance." In 2002, the band signed with a small New York record company called A Touch of Class for

6096-521: The Same Thing ", performed at the Live 8 concert, "Paul McCartney", "I Can't Decide", "Hybrid Man", "Forever Right Now" and "Hair Baby" (a title that refers to the phenomenon of tumors containing partially formed fetuses ). Among the assumed pseudonyms used to play a series of secret shows to test this new material were "Bridget Jones' Diarrhea", "Portion Control" and "Megapussi". Scissor Sisters were also one of

6223-586: The Sunshine Band , Duran Duran who were "the reason we got into music," Matronic stated, Supertramp , Siouxsie and the Banshees who Matronic "wouldn't be here without," David Bowie , 1970s-era Kiss , Queen , Chic , Richard O'Brien and various other dance, disco, rock, and funk acts. Shears also stated that The Beatles have been an influence for him and that he is a huge fan of Paul McCartney and Wings , hence their track entitled "Paul McCartney". However,

6350-704: The Tony-Award-winning musical Avenue Q . The show had a subsequent run in San Francisco on May 18, 2011 at the American Conservatory Theater . On October 31, 2011, Shears tweeted that the band's fourth album was in its final stages. A song from the new album titled " Shady Love " debuted on Annie Mac 's BBC Radio 1 show on January 2, 2012. "Shady Love" features guest vocals from Azealia Banks while Jake Shears performs under his pseudonym Krystal Pepsy. On March 13, 2012, Scissor Sisters announced

6477-501: The UK. Several media outlets noted that Scissor Sisters "stick out like a sore thumb" on the list of artists who have sold over 2 million copies of an album in the UK in the 21st century, the others being James Blunt , Robbie Williams , Keane , Dido , Coldplay and Norah Jones —artists considered "mainstream" compared to the Scissor Sisters' brash and controversial image. The band had been particularly keen on producing an album that fitted together well rather than simply producing

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6604-685: The United Kingdom. The Scissor Sisters ended their first UK tour at the Wembley Arena , London , from November 24 to 26, 2006, supported by new artist Lily Allen , who performed during the three days there. The band has also been in the Latin America Top 40 Airplay. "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" is still charting and is so far their biggest hit to date in Latin America, reaching No. 23, charting mostly in South America, particularly Peru . " Land of

6731-524: The album is a combination of 1960s psychedelia , glam rock and disco . It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart in its first week of release, officially taking the top spot on September 24, 2006, marking a first for the Scissor Sisters, consisting of a single and album at the top of the UK charts simultaneously. The album Ta-Dah leaked onto the Internet on September 10, 2006, five days before its release in

6858-434: The album, as the band was less than satisfied with most of them. This was confirmed to be the case when the track list was revealed. Drummer Paddy Boom was absent at these gigs and it was later announced that he had amicably parted from the band. The band had come into contact with drummer Randy "Real" Schrager , who was known from his work on the downtown New York scene, playing with bands such as Jessica Vale and The Act. He

6985-678: The attention of British label Polydor , who signed the group to a contract. Their first single for the label " Laura " (with two different music videos) had a limited release in 2003 and reaching number 54 in the UK Singles Chart , receiving little attention with the exceptions of British music paper New Musical Express , Channel 4's entertainment programme V Graham Norton , and the same channel's music programme Popworld for which they were interviewed. The track also received much radio play in Australia. Their track "It Can't Come Quickly Enough"

7112-750: The audience. "Isn't It Strange," a track created during the band's recording session for "Night Work" , featured in Shrek Forever After (2010). DJ Earworm 's 2005 song "No One Takes Your Freedom" combined Scissor Sisters' "Take Your Mama" with The Beatles ' "For No One", George Michael 's "Freedom '90" and Aretha Franklin 's "Think". Current members Former members Former Live members As supporting act Pop rock Much pop and rock music has been very similar in sound, instrumentation and even lyrical content. The terms "pop rock" and " power pop " have been used to describe more commercially successful music that uses elements from, or

7239-410: The band admits that their music is hard to categorise. The lyrics of their songs, largely written by Shears and Babydaddy, are known for their mixture of wit and tragedy. The songs on their debut album dealt with a number of subjects and issues in a variety of styles, from drug abuse within the gay community (" Return to Oz "), to Shears' deep platonic love for his best friend Mary ("Mary"). Mary died of

7366-439: The band's logo appeared on Glasgow's OVO Hydro and Manchester's Co-op Live arenas. The following day, the band's social feeds were updated with the text "31.10.24". On October 31st, the band confirmed that they were reuniting for a string of shows in 2025, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their debut album. The band's reunited line-up will be a trio, featuring Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis, and will not feature

7493-521: The best moonwalk I've ever seen." Ana Matronic ran a weekly cabaret event known as Knock Off at a club called the Slipper Room in New York, where she liked to hire eccentric and alternative acts; one reporter described it as a place that "served up a racy, multigender revue of kitsch," and that a performer dressed as a giant vulva "enfolded me with her labia while singing "Lick Me in My Wet Spot" to

7620-405: The canal is blocked off by a plate of tissue, the vaginal plate. This tissue develops and lengthens during the third to fifth months and the lower part of the vaginal canal is formed by a process of desquamation or cell shedding. The end of the vaginal canal is blocked off by an endodermal membrane, which separates the opening from the vestibule. In the fifth month, the membrane degenerates but leaves

7747-438: The clitoris are the glans and frenulum . Typically, the glans is roughly the size and shape of a pea , and can vary in size from about 6 mm to 25 mm (less than an inch). The size can also vary when the clitoris is erect , which happens when two regions of erectile tissue known as the corpora cavernosa (along with the bulbs and crura , which both constitute the root of the clitoris) fill with blood , making

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7874-456: The concept of pop rock, which blends pop and rock, is at odds with the typical conception of pop and rock as opposites. Auslander and several other scholars, such as Simon Frith and Grossberg, argue that pop music is often depicted as an inauthentic, cynical, "slickly commercial", and formulaic form of entertainment. In contrast, rock music is often heralded as an authentic, sincere, and anti-commercial form of music, which emphasizes songwriting by

8001-665: The decision on a number of occasions. However, they continued their success in Europe by performing at the Brixton Academy in London for Halloween 2004, where they asked the audience to dress up as the characters from The Rocky Horror Show ; the band themselves did so too. Recording of the second album, Ta-Dah , commenced in mid-May 2005 at the Discoball; sneak previews of new songs were played at live performances, including " Everybody Wants

8128-440: The development of the embryo , mesenchyme cells from the primitive streak migrate around the cloacal membrane . Early in the fifth week, the cells form two swellings called the cloacal folds. The cloacal folds meet in front of the cloacal membrane and form a raised area known as the genital tubercle . The urorectal septum fuses with the cloacal membrane to form the perineum . This division creates two areas one surrounded by

8255-412: The development of the secondary sex characteristics. This contributes to the maturation of the vulva with increases in the size of the mons pubis, and the labia majora and the enlargement of the labia minora. In pregnancy , the vulva and vagina take on a bluish coloring due to venous congestion. This appears between the eighth and twelfth week and continues to darken as the pregnancy continues. Estrogen

8382-415: The female genitalia leading into the interior of the female reproductive tract , starting at the vaginal opening . For humans, it includes the mons pubis , labia majora , labia minora , clitoris , vestibule , urinary meatus , vaginal introitus, hymen , and openings of the vestibular glands ( Bartholin's and Skene's ). The folds of the outer and inner labia provide a double layer of protection for

8509-425: The female, hormones stimulate further development and the genital tubercle bends and forms the clitoris. The urogenital sinus persists as the vulval vestibule, vestibular glands and urethra. The urethral folds form the labia minora and the labioscrotal swellings form the labia majora. The uterovaginal canal or genital canal, forms in the third month of the development of the urogenital system. The lower part of

8636-439: The fetus. Instead of being seen as a normal variant it is proposed that premature pubarche may be seen as a marker for these later endocrine disorders. Apocrine sweat glands secrete sweat into the pubic hair follicles. This is broken down by bacteria on the skin and produces an odor, which some consider to act as an attractant sex pheromone . The labia minora may grow more prominent and undergo changes in color. At puberty,

8763-420: The first monthly period known as menarche marks the onset of menstruation . In prepubertal girls, the skin of the vulva is thin and delicate, and its neutral pH makes it prone to irritation. The production of the female sex hormone estradiol (an estrogen ) at puberty, causes the perineal skin to thicken by keratinising , and this reduces the risk of infection. Estrogen also causes the laying down of fat in

8890-453: The first time we played, she gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, 'I just want you to know that this is my favorite music performance we've ever had.' It was amazing." Nonetheless, neither the band nor the album proved to be a big commercial success in the US: major chain store Wal-Mart refused to stock it, claiming on its website that it contained "a snarling, swaggering attack on conservatism " in

9017-479: The form of the song "Tits on the Radio". The band refused to produce a "clean" version of the album, and Babydaddy remarked that, "We did have to slap a parental warning sticker on the disc, which is completely absurd. I think a kid listening to Eminem is getting a much more negative message than what we've been putting forward. We've only got one 'shit' and a few 'tits!'" Band members have shown their dissatisfaction with

9144-509: The form of, rock music. Writer Johan Fornas views pop/rock as "one single, continuous genre field", rather than distinct categories. To the authors Larry Starr and Christopher Waterman, it is defined as an "upbeat variety of rock music" represented by artists and bands such as Andy Kim , the Bells , Paul McCartney , Lighthouse , and Peter Frampton . The term "pop" has been used since the early forties to refer to popular music in general, but in

9271-572: The genitals. Most STIs do not produce symptoms or symptoms may be mild and not be indicative of an STI. The practice of safe sex can greatly reduce the risk of infection from many sexually transmitted pathogens. The use of condoms (either male or female condoms ) is one of the most effective methods of protection. Bacterial infections include: chancroid – characterised by genital ulcers known as chancres ; granuloma inguinale showing as inflammatory granulomas often described as nodules; syphilis –the primary stage classically presents with

9398-490: The glans) is the human female's most sensitive erogenous zone and generally the primary anatomical source of human female sexual pleasure. Sexual stimulation of the clitoris (by a number of means) can result in widespread sexual arousal and, if maintained, can result in orgasm . Stimulation to vulvar orgasm is optimally achieved by a massaging sensation, such as oral sex ( cunnilingus ), fingering , and tribadism (two women rubbing vulvas together). Sexual arousal results in

9525-473: The headlining acts at the British V Festival in 2005, where they collaborated on stage with Scottish rock group Franz Ferdinand to perform a cover version of David Bowie 's " Suffragette City ". The band fulfilled one of its dreams: Elton John collaborated with them on " I Don't Feel Like Dancin' " (as pianist and co-writer). The song reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2006, and remained in

9652-400: The hedonist anthem " Filthy/Gorgeous " which peaked at number 5 in the UK. All the singles came from their debut album Scissor Sisters , which reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and became the best selling album of 2004, beating Keane 's Hopes and Fears by 582 copies. As of 2018, it is the 20th biggest-selling album of the 21st century, and the 35th biggest-selling of all time in

9779-403: The hymen may also rupture spontaneously during exercise or be stretched by normal activities such as the use of tampons and menstrual cups , or be so minor as to be unnoticeable, or be absent. In some rare cases, the hymen may completely cover the introitus, requiring a surgical procedure called a hymenotomy . Two greater vestibular glands known as Bartholin's glands open into either side of

9906-519: The impetus for the band's hiatus was the success of "Let's Have a Kiki" in the US and wanting to end things on a high note: "I didn’t know what the fuck to say after that song, quite honestly. When that song came out and did what it did [hitting #1 on the Billboard dance charts], I was just like, 'Well, there it is, I guess we did it.' I truly had no idea what to follow that up with. So I thought, we’ve been recording and touring for 10 years, and I felt like it

10033-408: The introitus and secrete a mucous vaginal lubricant . The openings of the lesser vestibular glands, known as Skene's glands , are found on either side of the urethral meatus. Pelvic floor muscles help to support the vulvar structures. The voluntary, pubococcygeus muscle , part of the levator ani muscle partially constricts the vaginal opening. Other muscles of the urogenital triangle support

10160-473: The labia majora for up to seven inches. Children in the African diaspora practise this too, so it occurs within immigrant communities in, for example, Britain, where a BBC News report labelled it a hidden form of child abuse . The girls are subject to familial and social pressure to conform. In some cultures, including modern Western culture, women have shaved or otherwise removed the hair from part or all of

10287-412: The labia minora. The vulva can be affected by many disorders, which may often result in irritation . Vulvovaginal health measures can prevent many of these. Other disorders include a number of infections and cancers . There are several vulval restorative surgeries known as genitoplasties , and some of these are also used as cosmetic surgery procedures . Different cultures have held different views of

10414-552: The lyrics and score for a world-premiere musical adaptation of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City , a much-loved series of novels (and later a television miniseries) about life in San Francisco in the 1970s. The musical was first developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center 's National Music Theater Conference in 2009, where Shears and Garden collaborated with a creative team that included playwright Jeff Whitty and director Jason Moore , of

10541-491: The mid-1950s, it began to be used for a distinct genre, aimed at a youth market, often characterized as a softer alternative to rock and roll. In the aftermath of the British Invasion , from about 1967, it was increasingly used in opposition to the term rock, to describe a form that was more commercial, ephemeral and accessible. As of the 2010s, "guitar pop rock" and " indie rock " are roughly synonymous terms. " Jangle "

10668-465: The mons pubis, and sometimes to the inner thighs and perineum. Pubic hair is much coarser than other body hair, and is considered a secondary sex characteristic . Pubarche can occur independently of puberty. Premature pubarche may sometimes indicate a later metabolic - endocrine disorder seen at adolescence. The disorder sometimes known as a polyendocrine disorder is marked by elevated levels of androgen , insulin , and lipids , and may originate in

10795-415: The mons, the labia, and the vaginal opening and can cause pale, itchy, and sore skin. Other visible changes are a thinning of the pubic hair, a loss of fat from the labia majora, a thinning of the labia minora, and a narrowing of the vaginal opening. This condition has been renamed by some bodies as the genitourinary syndrome of menopause as a more comprehensive term. The vulva has a major role to play in

10922-481: The most common variant of vulvar cancers and account for approximately 75%. These are usually found in the labia, particularly the labia majora. The second most common vulvar cancer is basal cell carcinoma , which rarely spreads to regional lymph nodes or distant organs. The third most common subtype is vulvar melanoma . Studies have shown that vulvar melanomas appear to have a different tumor biology and mutational characteristics compared to skin melanomas , which has

11049-515: The names Queef Latina and Debbie's Hairy. New songs included on the set list were "Television", "Who's Your Money", "Other Girls", "Major for You", "None of My Business", "Singularity", " Do the Strand ", "Who's There", "Not the Loving Kind", "Taking Shape" (with Babydaddy on lead vocals), and " Uroboros ". Shears stated on the band's website there was a possibility that none of these songs would appear on

11176-686: The new album. A free concert was given in Trafalgar Square to 10,000 ballot winners on September 16, 2006, to promote the Red charity. The band also headlined the 2006 Bestival festival on the Isle of Wight . Additionally, they were invited to BBC 's Maida Vale studios to perform different songs on every show broadcast on BBC Radio 1 . The event, dubbed "Scissor Sisters Day", culminated in them actually standing in for presenter Pete Tong and hosting his three-hour slot themselves. The show took an unexpected turn when

11303-458: The outer third of the vagina, as well as the uterus and anus. Contractions become less intense and more randomly spaced as the orgasm continues. The number of contractions that accompany an orgasm vary depending on its intensity. An orgasm may be accompanied by female ejaculation , causing liquid from the Skene's glands to be expelled through the urethra. The pooled blood begins to dissipate, although at

11430-515: The participation of Ana Matronic, Paddy Boom or Randy Real. Regarding Ana Matronic's absence, Shears noted: "I think it just didn’t line up. It’s not something that she wanted to do at this moment in time. And I didn’t want that to keep us from coming out and playing these songs." Babydaddy elaborated: "It’s more her story to tell than ours. Except to say that, I think she’s such a part of the spirit of this band, especially at that moment in time. There were definitely conversations, and I think hopefully

11557-404: The perineum) is sometimes performed to facilitate delivery and limit tearing. A tear takes longer to heal than an incision. Tears and incisions may be repaired using sutures that may be layered. Among the methods of hair removal evaluated for pre-surgeries, pubic hair shaving known as prepping , was seen to increase the risk of surgical site infections. No advantages have been demonstrated in

11684-408: The release of the band's second studio album Ta-Dah (2006), their second consecutive UK number one album which produced their first UK number one single " I Don't Feel Like Dancin' ". Their third studio album Night Work (2010) displayed a shift towards a more club-oriented sound, charting at number two on the UK Albums Chart, number one on Billboard 's Top Independent Albums chart and in

11811-399: The reproductive system. It provides entry to, and protection for the uterus, and the right conditions in terms of warmth and moisture that aids in its sexual and reproductive functions. The vulva is richly innervated and provides pleasure when properly stimulated. The mons pubis provides cushioning against the pubic bone during intercourse. A number of different secretions are associated with

11938-443: The risks of these surgeries. They refer to the lack of data relevant to their safety and effectiveness and to the potential associated risks such as infection , altered sensation, dyspareunia , adhesions , and scarring . There is also a percentage of people seeking cosmetic surgery who may be suffering from body dysmorphic disorder and surgery in these cases can be counterproductive. In some cultural practices , particularly in

12065-728: The routine shaving of pubic hair prior to childbirth. Genitoplasties are plastic surgeries that can be carried out to repair, restore or alter vulvar tissues, particularly following damage caused by injury or cancer treatment . These procedures include vaginoplasty and vulvoplasty , which can also be performed as a cosmetic surgery . Other cosmetic surgeries to change the appearance of external structures include labiaplasties . Some of these procedures, vaginoplasties and vulvoplasties, are also carried out as sex reassignment surgeries . The use of cosmetic surgeries has been criticized by clinicians. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women be informed of

12192-475: The significant differences in the size, shape, and color of the labia minora. Though called the smaller lips, they can often be of considerable size and may protrude outside the labia majora. This variation has also been evidenced in a large display of 400 vulval casts called the Great Wall of Vagina created by Jamie McCartney to fill the lack of information of what a normal vulva looks like. The casts taken from

12319-430: The singers and bands, instrumental virtuosity, and a "real connection with the audience". Frith's analysis of the history of popular music from the 1950s to the 1980s has been criticized by B. J. Moore-Gilbert, who argues that Frith and other scholars have overemphasized the role of rock in the history of popular music by naming every new genre using the "rock" suffix. Thus, when a folk-oriented style of music developed in

12446-415: The terminal branches of the pudendal nerve and this branches into the posterior labial nerves to supply the labia. The pudendal nerve branches include the dorsal nerve , which gives sensation to the clitoris. The clitoral glans is seen to be populated by a large number of small nerves, a number that decreases as the tissue changes towards the urethra. The density of nerves at the glans indicates that it

12573-407: The test subjects, there were women who, with a man they loved and desired, "felt the greatest pleasure at certain tender touches", but were nevertheless not sufficiently aroused during coitus. Bonaparte examined the distance between the clitoris and the vagina in 200 women. In 69% of the women, the CUMD was 1.25 to 2.25 cm, most of whom experienced the sexual act as satisfying. In 10% of the women,

12700-464: The time of diagnosis, which significantly impacts prognosis. Surgery (with or without removal of regional lymph nodes) is usually the primary treatment modality. Typically, a wide-local excision is performed, in which the tumor is excised including a safety-margin of healthy tissue to ensure its entire removal, which is confirmed by a pathologist. In more advanced disease, a (partial) vulvectomy may need to be performed in order to remove some or all of

12827-448: The title of the album, Magic Hour , and revealed that the record would be released worldwide on May 28, 2012. The band also announced the release date of a new single, " Only the Horses ". Originally scheduled to come out on May 20, the release of "Only the Horses" was brought forward to May 13. The video premiered on Thursday April 18, 2012. On May 7, the band released the track " Let's Have

12954-580: The top 10 of several international territories. The band released their fourth studio album Magic Hour in May 2012. Scissor Sisters has performed around the world and have become recognized for their controversial and transgressive live performances. They also collaborated with a number of other well-known pop musicians, including Elton John and Kylie Minogue ; these particular collaborations have been received positively by both critics and other notable figures. In 2004, Bono , lead vocalist of rock band U2 , described Scissor Sisters as "the best pop group in

13081-635: The top spot for four consecutive weeks. "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" also peaked at No. 1 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and the Euro Hot 100 . "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" became the group's biggest hit to date. Elton John also contributed to the song "Intermission" on Ta-Dah and played piano on a demo of the song Bad Shit (that can be found on the Lights CDsingle). In 2006, they acted as an opening act for Depeche Mode 's Touring

13208-481: The tune of " Hit Me With Your Best Shot "." Matronic invited the pair to appear at Knock Off, which they did on September 21, 2001. Shears dressed as his character "Jason the Amazing Back-Alley Late Term Abortion" whilst Matronic, dressed as a reject from Andy Warhol 's Factory , joined the pair on stage and sang. Shears and Babydaddy felt she was very effective and asked her to join the band on

13335-415: The urethral folds and the other by the anal folds. These areas become the urogenital triangle and the anal triangle. The area between the vulva and the anus is known as the clinical perineum. At the same time, a pair of swellings on either side of the urethral folds known as the genital swellings develop into the labioscrotal swellings . Sexual differentiation takes place, and at the end of week six in

13462-509: The vagina (so that it is continuously touched by the penis) were able to experience "the highest sexual pleasure" during coitus. A study by Carney Landis and colleagues in 1940 includes statements to this effect: "On the physical side orgasm capacity is related to clitoris-meatus distance". (Landis et al. 1940). In 2011, Kim Wallen and Elisabeth Lloyd reviewed Bonaparte's research and confirmed an inverse correlation between CUMD and orgasm through intercourse. In methods taught since

13589-405: The vagina (which leads to the uterus ). Pelvic floor muscles support the structures of the vulva. Other muscles of the urogenital triangle also give support. Blood supply to the vulva comes from the three pudendal arteries . The internal pudendal veins give drainage. Afferent lymph vessels carry lymph away from the vulva to the inguinal lymph nodes . The nerves that supply the vulva are

13716-455: The vagina is a separate part of the anatomy, it has often been used synonymously with vulva. The human vulva is made up of the following: The mons pubis is a soft mound of fatty tissue in the pubic region covering the pubic bone . Mons pubis is Latin for "pubic mound" and is present in both sexes to act as a cushion during sexual intercourse , and is more pronounced in the female. The variant term mons veneris ('mound of Venus')

13843-417: The vagina. These are believed to act as pheromones . Their fatty acid composition, and consequently their odor changes in relation to the stages of the menstrual cycle . The clitoris and the labia minora are both the most erogenous areas of the vulva. The labia majora are also somewhat erogenous. Local stimulation can involve the clitoris, vagina and other perineal regions. The clitoris (especially

13970-476: The vaginal opening by about 30%. Clitoral erection takes place, which retracts the clitoral hood, causing the glans to appear. The labia majora have swollen from blood flow, and slightly separated, revealing a thick and engorged labia minora. The labia minora sometimes change considerably in color, going from pink to red in lighter skinned women who have not borne a child, or red to dark red in those who have. During orgasm, rhythmic muscle contractions occur in

14097-439: The vulva is called pruritus vulvae . This can be a symptom of many disorders, some of which may be determined by a patch test . The most common cause of irritation is thrush , a fungal infection. Vulvovaginal health measures can help to prevent many disorders including thrush. Infections of the vagina such as vaginosis and of the uterus may produce vaginal discharge , which can be an irritant when it comes into contact with

14224-504: The vulva, including urine (from the urethral opening during urination through control of the external sphincter muscle ), sweat (from the apocrine glands), menses (leaving from the vagina via the introitus), sebum (from the sebaceous glands ), alkaline fluid (from the Bartholin's glands), mucus (from the Skene's glands), vaginal lubrication from the vaginal wall and smegma . Smegma

14351-500: The vulva. Advanced-stage melanomas can be treated with checkpoint inhibitors . Labial fusion , also called labial adhesion , is the fusion of the labia minora. This affects a number of young girls and is not considered unduly problematic. The condition can usually be treated using creams , or it may right itself with the release of hormones at the onset of puberty. Clitoromegaly is an enlarged clitoris caused by either anabolic steroids or an intersex condition. Vulvodynia

14478-399: The vulva. Crohn's disease of the vulva is an uncommon form of metastatic Crohn's disease, which manifests as a skin condition showing as hypertrophic lesions or vulvar abscesses . Papillary hidradenomas are nodules that can ulcerate and are mostly found on the skin of the labia or of the interlabial folds. Another more complex ulcerative condition is hidradenitis suppurativa , which

14605-544: The vulva. Some ancient religions and societies have worshipped the vulva and revered the female as a goddess. Major traditions in Hinduism continue this. In Western societies, there has been a largely negative attitude typified by the medical terminology of pudenda membra , meaning parts to be ashamed of. There has been an artistic reaction to this in various attempts to bring about a more positive and natural outlook, such as work from British, American, and Japanese artists. While

14732-512: The vulva. When high-cut swimsuits became fashionable, women who wished to wear them would remove the hair on either side of their pubic triangles, to avoid exhibiting pubic hair . Other women prefer to retain their vulva hair. The removal of hair from the vulva is a fairly recent phenomenon in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, usually in the form of bikini waxing or Brazilian waxing , but has been prevalent in many Eastern European and Middle Eastern cultures for centuries, usually due to

14859-422: The vulvar area and they include the transverse perineal muscles , the bulbospongiosus , and the ischiocavernosus muscles. The bulbospongiosus muscle decreases the vaginal opening. They play a role in the vaginal contractions of orgasm by causing the vestibular bulbs to contract. The tissues of the vulva are highly vascularised and blood supply is provided by the three pudendal arteries . Venous return

14986-448: The vulvar tissue. Inflammation as vaginitis , vulvovaginitis and vulvitis can result from this causing irritation and pain. Ingrown hairs resulting from pubic hair shaving can cause folliculitis where the hair follicle becomes infected; or give rise to an inflammatory response known as pseudofolliculitis pubis . A less common cause of irritation is genital lichen planus , another inflammatory disorder. A severe variant of this

15113-704: The world". They also collaborated with Global Cool in 2007 on one of their green lifestyle campaigns. Originally named Dead Lesbian and the Fibrillating Scissor Sisters , the final two words being derived from the lesbian sexual act of tribadism , the band was founded in 2000 after friends Jason "Jake Shears" Sellards and Scott "Babydaddy" Hoffman (who had met in 1999 in Lexington ) both moved to New York City , enjoying its open and gay-friendly ethos. They began producing music together, with Babydaddy composing music and Shears writing lyrics. The duo released

15240-418: Was also included on the soundtrack of the film Party Monster (2003), playing over its ending credits. Their first hit was in 2004 with the official release of "Comfortably Numb". Reaching number 10 in the UK, this success was followed by " Take Your Mama " which went to number 17, a re-release of "Laura" (with two different music videos) which went to number 12, the ballad "Mary" which went to number 14, and

15367-459: Was created by a wide variety of techniques and mixed traditional paper-based processes with digital and photographic elements in order to reflect the multi-referential nature of the band's music. Scissor Sisters are known for their extravagant live performances. In some of their early shows, Shears was known to remove all of his clothes onstage, harking back to his former profession as a go-go stripper ; in others, he threw inflated condoms into

15494-408: Was initially brought on as a fill-in during Paddy Boom's leave of absence. Eventually, Randy was made part of the full-time line-up. Scissor Sisters spent much of 2008 and early 2009 in the recording studio. However, after working on new material for approximately 18 months, the band decided to shelve their third album. Shears explained: "In my heart I knew it wasn't right. I didn't really know what it

15621-542: Was later certified nine-times platinum by the BPI, and earned them three BRIT Awards in 2005. All five of its singles reached positions within the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart while " Filthy/Gorgeous " scored the band their first number one on Billboard 's Hot Dance Club Songs , despite the album's meager success in their native US. The album continued its success in countries around Europe, in Australia and in Canada before

15748-439: Was released on June 28, 2010. The album was described as "supersexual and sleazy" with its first single, " Fire with Fire " as "a really epic song that makes you feel really good". With the album, the band have toured worldwide on The Night Work Tour. As an opening act, they joined Lady Gaga for select dates on her third leg of The Monster Ball Tour in early 2011. Shears and Scissor Sisters collaborator John "JJ" Garden provided

15875-755: Was the main event during the New Year's Eve celebrations for 2007 in Berlin. On February 8 and 9, 2007, the group appeared on the American daytime soap opera Passions . They performed "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" and "Land of a Thousand Words" from the album Ta-Dah . After touring the world in 2007, the band had a short hiatus in order to work on their next studio album. Premiering new material of this album at secret gigs in New York City's Mercury Lounge in October 2008, they assumed

16002-433: Was time. This wasn’t what anybody in the band had planned to do. So I thought it would be fun to end on a high note. But you know what? That’s not to say we’re never going to do anything again. The Scissor Sisters will be back." He later noted: "I think reaching that goal, and feeling like we were in a great moment, made it feel like a great time to hang up our hats." After over seven years of inactivity, on October 29th 2024,

16129-476: Was trying to say. It left me a little bit cold." Reportedly, an entire record had been worked on but that the group had "shelved it about a year ago." Shears admits, "If it wasn't something we could fully get behind and believe in, I think the band was going to be over." In June 2009, the band returned to the studio and began to work on new tracks that made it onto Night Work , their replacement third album. Produced in collaboration with Stuart Price , Night Work

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